Councillor brings motion calling for end to one-way system in Kilkenny

A Notice of Motion has been tabled for next week's meeting of Kilkenny City Municipal District calling for an end to the current one-way system in Kilkenny City.

The item brought by Cllr Eugene McGuinness, reads: “Now that the Government have removed all Covid restrictions, which also removes the need for Social Distancing I would ask Kilkenny County Council to reinstate the pre-covid, two-way traffic system.”

In December, the elected members agreed to keep the system until June or until the pandemic abated. They said while it may not work as a long-term traffic management solution, it was continuing to prove effective in fulfilling its purpose as a measure to facilitate social distancing and keep people safe.

At that meeting, results of a council survey revealed a difference of opinion between city centre retailers and the wider community as to the merits of maintaining the current one-way system. The council’s survey - carried out last year - took in views of both businesses and the wider public, with over 100 businesses responding and over 1,000 community responses.

In the community questionnaire, 66% of respondents agreed that the new system had made social distancing easier, with a similar number saying they felt safe visiting the city.

Almost 67% agreed that, long term, they would like to see some form of one-way or pedestrianisation to facilitate more comfortable pedestrian movement through the city centre, with 66% saying they felt the current system should remain in place until a permanent solution replaces it.

Just under 34% of businesses agreed they would like the current temporary one-way system to remain to facilitate social distancing while concerns remain over the transmission of Covid. That’s compared to 65% agreeing from the wider community responses.

Meanwhile, just under 48% of businesses agreed they would like to see additional pedestrianisation where feasible, compared to 68% of wider community respondents.